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TABITHA

“You need to be the one to make the call.”

“What?”

“Because he’ll only believe it if it comes from you,” Sergei pushed.

I knew something was coming the second I walked into the room. Preacher stood near the window, arms crossed, jaw tight, while my boys were all seated around the table with soured expressions on their faces.

I was expecting them to be in better spirits. Sergei had gotten the files on Vasili to his contact, and after seeing what was inside, he did as he promised and got them in Vetrov’s hands. It wasn’t long after that when Sergei got the call that he was sending in Leonid Sokolov to deal with Vasili.

I wasn’t surprised. A man like Vetrov never dealt with matters like this. He had men for that—men like Leonid Sokolov. He was the one who came whenever someone stepped out of line. They told Sergei to have Vasili at the house by six, and Sokolov would take care of the rest. It seemed simple enough until Sergei announced that I had to be the one to call Vasili.

“Why do I have to call him?” I crossed my arms defensively. “Because I’m weak?”

“You’re anything but weak, doll,” Hudson argued. “We need you to do it because you’re the one he still thinks he can manipulate. He knows the bullshit his brother put you through, and he thinks he can use it to his advantage.”

I hated it, but I knew he was right.

I clinched my fist and tried to steady myself before asking, “So, I just call him and what? Tell him that he wins, and we’re ready to make a deal?”

“That’s exactly what you do.” Sergei nodded. “Tell him we’ll make things right. That the money’s negotiable, and that you just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”

I looked over to Hudson, and suddenly, the storm inside me started to settle. Yes, I was afraid. I was terrified. But he was there. He was watching over me and my boys, and I knew he’d never let anything happen to us. So, I let out a breath and said, “Okay. I’ll do it.”

“Good.”

Nikolai got up and walked over to me. “Don’t let him rattle you. He’s gonna try.”

“I know. I’ll remember.”

After a few deep breaths, I dialed a number I thought I’d never use again.

And just as luck would have it, he picked up on the very first ring.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the beautiful Tabitha Volkov,” Vasili’s voice oozed with smugness and sent a shiver down my spine. “I was wondering how long it would take you to get your head straight.”

“I talked it over with Sergei and his brothers, and we’ve all decided that you are right. We should’ve never tried to walk away from the family.”

“It was a betrayal. That’s what it was.”

“And we are sorry and want to make things right. We’ll do whatever you want.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear.”

“I thought it would be.” I gritted my teeth as I told him, “Why don’t you come to the house tonight, and we can talk things over. That is, if you are still in town.”

“Oh, I’m still here, and I’ll be there.” He was silent for a moment, then added, “You’ve made the right decision,kroshka. I’ll be there at six.”

He hung up without another word.

I didn’t realize I’d been holding my breath until the call ended. I looked up at Hudson, and he gave me a nod of approval. We were getting close. It was almost over.

Almost.

I barely had a chance to catch my breath before everything was set into motion. The boys pulled in their guards and gave them explicit directions to cover the house and the grounds, but to do it without being seen. The security cameras were checked, and extra feeds were synced into Sergei’s office. Hudson called the brothers, and they did the same, slipping into the house without a trace.